Crutch.



PATENTED NOV. 5, 1907.

A. D. WIGK.

GRU'IGH.

APILIOATION' nun MAE.19 1907.

W/TNESSES NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALVIN DONALDSON WIOK, OF TOPEKA, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD T WILLIAMW. WIOK, JR., OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

GRUTCI-I.

Speeification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 5, 1907.

T0 all whom 2t may concem:

Be it known tha.t I, ALVIN DONALDSON WICK, a Citizen 0f the UnitedStates, and a resident 0f Topeka, in the county 0f Shawnee and State ofKansas, have in- 5 vented a new and Improved Orutch, 0f which tl1efollowing 1's a full clear, and exact description.

This invention relates t0 crutches, and the 0bject 0f the invention ist0 procluce a crutcl1 the length 0f which can be adjusted t0 suitpersons 0f different height.

A special object of the invention has been 150 provicle a constructionwhich will accomplish this object w1'thout the use of springs 0rsiri1ila.r contrivances likely t0 get out of order.

The invention consists in tl1e contruction anal combination 0f pa1ts t0be more fully described hereinafter and particularly set forth in theclaims.

Reference is t0 be lmd to alle accompanying drawings forming a pzu-t 0fthis specification, in Which similar chamcters 0f reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation 0f a. crutch constructed according t0 myinvention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through tl1e l0werportion 0f tl1e crutch;

and Fig. 3 is a cross section 011 the line 33 0f Fig. 2.

Referring m0re particularly t0 the pitrts, l. represents the body 0f thec1utch, which is formed into forks 2 that extencl up integrally f10n1 a.crotch 3. In the crotch 3 there is prov1'ded 21 stem 01 spindle 4 whichextencls downwz u-clly within the leg 0f the crutch, as shown in Fig. 2.This leg includes a main leg section 8 ancl removable blocks, as willappear presently. This stem is threaded throughout its length asindicatecl, so 21s t0 receive a nut 6, said nut being received in arecess 7 formecl in the side of the main section 8 0f the leg. The stem4 is clisposed centrally in this main section 8, und tl1e section is ofround form as indicated. Between the upper end 0f the mein leg section 8and the crotch 3, I prov1'de a plurality 0f removable blocks 9 whichl1ave centrally disp0secl openings through them t0 receive the stem 4,as Will be readily understood. Upon the lower end 0f the leg section 8 Iprovide a tip 10 of suitable form. As indicated in Fig. 3, the recess 7opens up0n the side face 0f the main section 8 and extends inwardly sothat the nut 6 may be s1id int0 the recess when the parts are being assembled. The bl0cks 9 may be of different widths 01 thicknesses, asshown. If the erson using thecrutch is unusually tall, the number ofblocks used may l0e increased, 21.nd if tl1e person is unusluallysl1ort, s0me 0f the blocks may be removed. In this way the length 0f thecrutch may 100 accurately adaptecl 130 the height 0f the person usingit.

lt should l0e unclerstood that the'nut 6 is permanently set in therecess, and a plug 6 is placed in the recess behind the nut; tl1e outerface 0f the plug is. flusl1 With the side 0f the crutch s0 that theappearance 0f the crutch 1's n0t detracted f1om in a.ny way.

Special attention is called t0 the fact that the crutch alwa.ys presentsa rigid structure at 11116 leg, without employing springs 01 otlierparts which can get 0ut of Order. The invention is particularly usefulin hespitals and similar institutions, as it obviates the necessity f0rproviding crutches for patients 0f different heights. A small number 0fCrutches can be kept 0n band ancl readily acljusted to the properlength.

Having tl1us described my invention, I claim as new and des1're tosecure by Letters Patent:

1. A crutch having :1 b0dy and a main leg section l'emovably attachedthereto andremovable blocks between said n:min leg section and sald b0dyund adapted to be rernoved 01' replaced to cha'nge the length 0f thec1'utch.

2. A cl'utch having u body witl1 a stem extending downwmdly from thel0wer end thereof, and 0 leg attached to said stem und having a plumlity013 removable blocks ndupted to ch-lnge tl1e length 0f the clutch.

A c1'utch lmving a body with a threaded stem exrending; downwzudly fromtl1e l0wer end thereof, a pluraly 0[ blocks received over said stem 21mein leg secti0n below sz1id blocl s and having a recess in the sidethereof. und a nut mounted in suld recess and received 011 said stell].

in testimonv whereof I have sig'ned my name t0 this speclficnrion intl1e presence 0f two subscribing witnesses.

ALVIN DONALDSON WICK.

Witnesses T. D. GOSSEIT, ROBERT N. DOWNIE.

